Life begins the day you start a garden

These words have probably inspired gardeners over generations to start making a garden of their own.

There is one word that describes gardeners - dedication. It is an important distinction, as it is an occupation that cannot be half-hearted.

The outcome depends on time commitment, continuity, the means, and the land. Perhaps, what is not considered, but needs to be, is that the garden itself, also has a life.

It is not just that space outside the home. It is what surrounds the home. It is, in fact, another room. And if tendered well, a garden will outlive the it’s creator.

The first consideration is to decide how you want to work the land – a flower paradise, a park-like space with trees with underplanting , a play area for children, a wildlife sanctuary.

This will lead you to decide the garden function and importantly – the style. Once these decisions are made, and the design is in preparation, you will ultimately be able to consider what plants are needed to realise your design.

Before you decide this, you must consider our new reality – climate change, limited water resources, and naturally the expense of plants. The basic garden practices that have been used historically must now be re-invented to suit our reality.

In the past choices were made due to the fact that the plants were popular, or trending and were readily available – their foliage, colour, fragrance and flowers were desirable.

However, now more important factors need to be considered first, before making your selection. To ensure suitability, try to use plants that are suited to our climate zone.

We are classified a Mediterranean climate – winter rain, summer drought. Select plants that are

indigenous or endemic to the area. We have so many wonderful

indigenous and fynbos plants to use – for example choose

Osteospermum instead of Petunia for summer colour. Ensure that

your choice is sustainable for the amount of water available.

Select plants that are attractive to bees and insects. Be mindful

how your selections work together in terms of scale, growth

habit, colour and form; and, will they be complementary to the

existing indigenous plants in the surrounding environment in

which they are being placed? It is not difficult to select plants, but

you always need to bear in mind the climate and micro climate in

your garden. There are plants that have uncontrolled or vigorous

re-seeding, do you want this? Plan to purchase over the year so

that there will always be something flowering or showing over

the seasons.

Many people think that once the garden has been planted it is

completed, and all that is needed is some pruning and feeding

over the year. Your garden will only begin once you start caring

for it. A schedule of management of your design, and basic

maintenance must be on a committed and consistent level. If the

garden is untouched for a few weeks, it will take much longer to

clean and clean. Mediterranean plants do not need heavy

watering. Once the plants are established, a moderate amount is

sufficient. Often people are deceived into thinking after rain, you

don’t need to water; if it was torrential, obviously not necessary.

It is better to check after rain to ensure whether watering is

required. It is a good practice to mulch plants so that the soil

around them does not dry out. The planting of ground covers

around the plants, creates a type of mulch- one that grows and

extends cover as it matures. Mulch also aids in keeping weeds at

a minimum.

No matter what size, your garden has a life of its own and will

always be a sanctuary for those who tend it. It will teach you the

benefit of care and consistency. It will reward you with its beauty,

and bird song. With this the realization that if there were more

gardeners then the land would be in safer hands and the Earth

will begin to recover.